Fort Worth man guilty of disrupting flight

A Fort Worth man who caused such a disturbance on a Southwest Airlines flight that the plane was diverted so he could be removed was convicted Friday in Amarillo of interfering with the flight crew.

Zachary Marshall Ziba, 25, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.

On Jan. 28, Ziba boarded Southwest Flight 958 in Denver heading to Dallas. Ziba intimidated members of the flight crew, was disruptive and disobedient and screamed profanities, the news release said.

The flight landed in Amarillo, where he was taken off the aircraft by law enforcement personnel, the release said.

A federal jury in U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson’s court deliberated less than three hours Friday before convicting Ziba.

Ziba remains free on bail until sentencing, which is scheduled for summer, court documents stated. A pre-sentencing report is due July 24, according to court orders.

This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Fort Worth man guilty of disrupting flight."